Harrow Borough Council to lobby government over Crossrail expansion

The leader of the council has invited a government minister to Harrow to discuss proposals to extend a new train line through the borough.

David Perry, leader of Harrow Borough Council has written to transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin over plans being considered to extend the Crossrail project to Hertfordshire.

If the plans were to be given the go ahead, the service would stop at Harrow and Wealdstone station before moving on to Watford Junction, Berkhamsted and Tring.

The council has invited the minister to the area to present regeneration projects in the pipeline and the positive effect the Crossrail expansion could have on Wealdstone.

In the letter to the secretary of state, Cllr Perry said: “For Harrow, any Crossrail extension would provide a real boost to our key priorities of helping local businesses and getting young people into well-paid, skilled jobs.

“An expansion to Harrow and Wealdstone station would prompt major investment in a part of the borough that suffers from under-development and has been hit hard by the recession, with low-wages being a real problem- meaning our young people and families all over Harrow are struggling to afford to afford the rent and pay the bills.”

He added: “Harrow has a strong story to tell as a metropolitan centre where local businesses can flourish whilst providing ladders of opportunity for our young people growing up in Harrow.

“With the encouraging prospect of a Crossrail expansion, I hope you will be able to come and see the changes taking place.”

The £15 billion train line is the biggest engineering project in Europe and will connect Reading, in Berkshire, to Shenfield in Essex, via central London when it is fully operational in 2019.

The proposals to extend Crossrail to Hertfordshire aim to ease commuter pressure on Euston station which is to be redeveloped as part of HS2.

Harrow and Wealdstone Station

Comments (1)

Great to see the Crossrail initiative by MP Bob Blackman,gathering pace.Leader of Harrow Council,David Perry's invitation to transport Secretary ,Patrick McLoughlin,seems a good logical step in the right direction.Following up fast is vitally important.

Wish all those who can push this forward in Harrow's best interests, the very best of luck.You all need to get your heads together to find best outcomes thus serving fellow Harrovians optimally.

Strike while the iron's sizzling!

Great to see the Crossrail initiative by MP Bob Blackman,gathering pace.Leader of Harrow Council,David Perry's invitation to transport Secretary ,Patrick McLoughlin,seems a good logical step in the right direction.Following up fast is vitally important.
Wish all those who can push this forward in Harrow's best interests, the very best of luck.You all need to get your heads together to find best outcomes thus serving fellow Harrovians optimally.
Strike while the iron's sizzling!Sonoo Malkani